Harrow.



PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

A. W. ENGLAND.

HARROW.

APPLICATION rum) mm. 20, 1902.

2 SHEETS-43321 2- NO MODEL.

W ihyzss as cordance with my invention.

ALEXANDER W. ENGLAND,

Patented Julie 30, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE. 1

OF COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE.

HARROW.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of LettersIatent N 0. 732,061, dated June 30, 1 903.

Application filed June 20. 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER W. ENG LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbia, in the county ofMaury and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Harrow, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to harrows, and particularly to that class which are composed of a series of toothed bars flexibly connected by means of links or joints.

My invention, which has for its object'to provide a harrow of this class which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability,and general efficiency, consists in the improved construction, arrangement and combination of partsto be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a harrow constructed in ac- Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken 1on gitndinally through the connecting and controlling beam. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken through one of the angle-bars and showing the method of connecting one of the teeth therewith. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View taken through one of the angle-bars and draft-plates. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views showing modified constructions of the draftplates, whereby the latter are adapted to brace the angle-bars when the latter are constructed of very light material.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by like characters of reference.

My improved barrow is composed of a series of angle-bars, (designated in the draw ings 1, 2, 3, and 5 but of which any desired number may be used. These angle-bars are provided with downwardly-extending teeth or spikes 5, which extend through perforations 6 in the upper approximately horizontal flanges of said angle-bars, the upper ends of said teeth lying snugly against the approximately vertical rear flanges 7 of said angle-bars, to which they are secured by means of staples or clamps S, which embrace the said teeth and have their arms extended through the flanges 7, against the rear sides of which the fastening-nuts 9 are tightened.

Serial No. 112,517. (No model.)

"The heads 10 of the spikes rest, as will be seen, upon the upper sides of' the upper or horizontal flanges 11 of the angle-bars. By

this method of connecting or attaching the teeth to the angle-bars it will be seen that the parts are mutually braced, the upper ends of the teeth or spikes preventing the flanges "of the angle-bars from bending or yielding, while the teeth in like manner are braced and held securely by the angle-bars and the securing-clamps. Each of the angle-bars may be provided with any desired number of teeth, and I prefer to so arrange the said teeth that they shall break joints with each other, or, in other words, not be arranged in the same line of draft. Suitably connected to the angle-bars by means of bolts, rivets, or other fastening devices are the draft-plates 12, which may consist simply of angular plates, the projecting ends or arms of which are pierced vertically to formperforations 13,'adapted to receive the hooks 14, formed at the ends of the connecting-links 15, by means of which the said angle-bars are connected. When the angle-bars are constructed of exceptionally-light material, as may sometimes be done in order to lessen weight and expense, I may find it necessary to provide special bracing devices for the purpose of preventing the said angle-bars from relaxing, and I then avail myself of theconstructions illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In Fig. 6 I have shown that portion of the angleplates 12 which projects in front of the horizontal flange 11 of the angle-bar provided with a shoulder 16, abutting against said flange and forming a bearing for the latter. When this construction is resorted to, the strain of the draft will be largely against the edge of the angle-bar which is best fitted to receiveit,while the strain upon the connecting bolts orrivets is reduced. By the modification shown in Fig. 7 the angle-plate is secured upon the outside of the angle-bar, with which it is connected by means of bolts or rivets,and the said angle-plate is additionally provided with aprojecting flange 17 at its loweredge, having a perforation 18 for the attachment of the coupling-link. Additional detached; or

intermediate angle-plates, such as shown at.

do so. I desire it tobe understood, however, that these special forms of braces may be dispensed with when the angle-bars constituting the harrow-bars are made suificiently stout and heavy.

Each harrow -bar is preferably provided with two pairs of draft-plates, one pair extending forwardly from the horizontal flanges of the angle-bars and the other pair rearwardly from the vertical flanges of the anglebars. Provision is thus made for connecting each pair of adjoining barrow-bars by means of two links. Let it be understood, however, that additional links may be used when desired, also that chains might be substituted for the links. I have used the designations horizontal and vertical with reference to the upper and lower or front and rear flanges of the angle-bars, respectively; but it will be understood that the positions practically occupied by said flanges only approximate the horizontal and the vertical.

The front and rear barrow-bars 1 and 4 are provided on their upper sides with bearingblocks 20, bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto and shod on their upper sides with rounded-edged metallic plates 21, adapted to bear against the under sides of the bearing-plates 22, which are suitably secured upon the under side of the longitudinal coupling or controlling beam 23,which is arranged longitudinally above the harrow-bars and about centrally between the ends of the latter. The nuts 24 upon the bolts 25, which connect the parts 20 and 21 with each other and with the front and rear barrow-bars, serve to retain the bearing-plates 22 of the controlling-beam in position by restraining the movement laterally of the said plates and beam. The front end of the said beam is provided on its under side with a hook 26, which is connected by means of a link or chain 27 with an eye 28, suitably secured upon the front side of the bearing-block 20 upon the front barrow-bar 1. The controlling-beam is provided near its rear end with a vertical slot 29, in which is pivoted a lever 30, the upper end of which is adapted to engage a segment-rack 31., secured upon the upper side of the beam. The lower end of the lever 30 is connected by means of a link or chain 32 with an eye 33, extending rearwardly from the rear harrow-beam 4:.

Draft may in practice be attached to either end of the harrow, but will usually be attached to what I have here designated as the front beam 1, which is provided, as herein described, with draft-plates extending forwardly fromits upper or horizontal flange. The draft attachment may consist of a chain having its ends suitably connected with said draft-plates and having means for the attachment, centrally or otherwise, of the draft.

The operation of my invention and its advantages will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. When the sections or bars, of which, as hereinbefore stated, there may be any desired number, have been joined together by means of the links 15 and the controlling-beam placed in position upon the bearing-blocks of the front and rear beams and connected with said beams in the manner described, the rear section or bar 4 may by operating the lever 30 be drawn forcibly in a rearward direction, thus imparting a strain in a rearward direction to each of the bars or sections lying in front and drawing the said sections to an approximately erect position, in which they may be secured by engaging the lever 30 with one of the teeth of the segment draft or ratchet 31. The degree of rigidity may be regulated by tightening or loosening the strain by means of the lever 30. Thus when rough or uneven ground is to be operated upon it may be found desirable to loosen the strain until the bars or sections of the harrow shall be capable of a very free and flexible movement. The individual bars will thus readily be adapted to the rough and uneven condition of the soil. When, on the other hand, the land is level, the lever may be operatedto increase the strain, thus increasing the rigidity of connection between the harrow-bars and causing the implement to ride freely and lightly over the soil.

The rearmost bar of my improved harrow, lin the drawings, may be provided with a clod-crushing bar 35, suitably attached to or connected with its front side and abutting against the front edges of the teeth or spikes thereof. pensed with when desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- In a harrow, the combination of a plurality of flexibly-connected angle-bars having teeth secured thereto, bearing-blocks upon the upper sides of the front and rear angle-bars, metallic shoes upon the upper sides of said bearing-blocks, the controlling-beam having bearing-plates on its under sides engaging said shoes, a flexible connection between the front end of said controlling-beam and the front barrow-beam, an adjusting-lever at the rear end of said controlling-beam, and a flexible connection between said adjusting-lever and the rear barrow-bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER W. ENGLAND.

Witnesses:

G; A. NIcHoLs, N. E. J ONES.

This bar may, however, be dis- 

